Senior
After nearly 20 years at Johnson's Point (Branford, CT), Eva and I have made a big move -- to Evergreen Woods, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in North Branford. It's only about 8 miles from Johnson's Point, but it should be a lot more in tune with our "senior" lifestyle.
We are enjoying the new location, but continuing with Amateur Radio is a challenge. The problems include substantial downsizing (shedding unneeded books, knick-knacks, etc.), apartment-style living (many closer neighbors with RFI possibilities), and limited options for antenna systems. Fortunately, the EW management are interested in supporting Amateur Radio, and there are other hams and former hams who might join in new ham activities. We are now exploring roof-top wire antenna possibilities.
As you see elsewhere in this site (Senior Living for Hams), we've been researching how other hams manage to continue in senior living arrangments, particularly CCRCs. The picture is surprisingly positive. I would welcome any new connections or news items!
[See our big list: Ham Radio and Senior Friendly Community Links.]
There are some 750,000 FCC licensed radio amateurs ("hams") in the US and over 2 million worldwide. About half of US hams have gone beyond the entry level license to gain access to a wide range of frequencies and techniques to allow them to communicate across the world.
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Senior Living and Amateur Radio -- online reports
(These links are gathered from internet searches. Please suggest any additional links to
Alaska
Ham operator (99) at Primrose Retirement Community, Wausilla, Alaska.
Arizona
http://www.greenfieldvillage.com/clubs/radio.html
The Sunlife Amateur Radio Club at Greenfield Village RV Park, Mesa, Arizona.
https://www.phoenixwestvalleyhomes.net/community/area/Sun%20City%2C%20Arizona/
A ham-friendly realtor and the Sun City, Arizona community.
California
http://www.sitemason.com/element/8jgw7bm/2014/07/28/with-radio-residents-can-listen-respond.937206
Amateur radio at Plymouth Village, Redlands CA.
Ham radio and emergency preparedness at Valle Verde, Santa Barbara, CA.
https://www.lagunawoodsvillage.com/clubs/documents/view/LW-ARC-General-Flyer3L.pdf
Laguna Woods Amateur Radio Club, W6LY - Laguna Woods Village, Orange County, CA
Connecticut
Evergreen Woods, AA6E, North Branford CT
Heritage Village, WA1UKD, Southbury CT
District of Columbia
https://www.disabled-world.com/communication/ham-radio.php
Ham radio at the Continuing Care Retirement Community in suburban Washington, D.C.
Florida
http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2011/03/neighborhood-ham-watch-in-florida.html
Neighborhood Ham Watch and the Royal Harbor Amateur Radio Club at Royal Harbor in Tavares, Florida.
https://www.k4vrc.com/
https://www.55places.com/florida/communities/the-villages#lifestyle
The Villages Amateur Radio Club at The Villages, in Florida.
Iowa
https://www.trilogyembers.com/our-services
Services and Amenities at The Embers in Marshalltown, Iowa include a ham shack.
Maryland
https://collington.kendal.org/news/2011/12/12/amateur-radio-station-connects-collington-to-the-world-with-a-purpose/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezxa4R8XndM
A feature story and video about ham radio (KB3US) at Collington in Mitchellville, Maryland.
https://www.ericksonliving.com/tribune/articles/2018/12/ham-shack (2018)
https://www.ericksonliving.com/articles/2013/01/riderwoods-ham-radio-operators-ragchew-day-and-night (2013)
Articles about ham radio at Riderwoods in Catonsville, Maryland.
Hams at the Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, Maryland
Massachusetts
https://www.ericksonliving.com/articles/2012/06/brooksby-village-residents-tech-savvy
BRAG is the Brooksby Radio Amateur Group (W1BBV) at Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA.
https://patch.com/massachusetts/hingham/linden-ponds-residents-embracing-national-tech-trends
Linden Ponds is "embracing national tech trends" including Amateur Radio in Hingham, MA.
Oregon
https://www.willametteview.org/life-at-willamette-view/news/willamette-view-hams-participate-in-countywide-emergency-exercise
https://www.willametteview.org/life-at-willamette-view/news/willamette-view-ham-club-goes-solar
Willamette View Amateur Radio Club emergency exercise and solar power, Portland, Oregon.
https://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2011/12/milwaukie_seniors_keep_ham_rad.html
A female ham operator at Willamette View Manor in Portland, Oregon.
Pennsylvania
https://www.lancastercountymag.com/senior-living-2/
A ham operator at Fairmount in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
The Masonic Village Amateur Radio Club in Elizabethtown, PA has club station K3WEB. (Thanks K3SWZ!)
A ham at Concordia Haven Apartments in Cabot, Pennsylvania
South Carolina
"Hamming it up" at Wesley Commons in Greenwood, South Carolina
Texas
A report of a QCWA meeting at N5YJ, The Aspens Amateur Radio Club, at The Aspens at Twin Creeks in Allen, Texas. (QCWA is the Quarter Century Wireless Association, for hams licensed at least 25 years.)
Articles in Ham Radio publications
(QST articles are available on-line to ARRL members. You may request single copies of these articles from Martin,
- James Benson (W8OUU) tells how he worked with his retirement community to install a VHF/UHF and a long-wire ham antenna. Published in QST, Sept. 2018, p. 20. (QST is the monthly magazine that is distributed to about 160,000 members of the American Radio Relay League. ARRL is headquartered in Newington, CT.)
- Trippy Brown (AC8EP) uses CQ100 software and QsoNet to do "ham radio" over the Internet, without the radio part. See ARRL News Article, 10/13/2009.
- "Retirement communities that permit antennas?" Discussion thread (2015) at QRZ.com.
- Bob Moren (K4CX - Silent Key) described his positive interactions with his retirement community in QST, Aug. 1995.
Other sources and resources
Veterans? You might check https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/veterans, an unrelated site.
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Compiled by Martin Ewing, AA6E (
Published on https://aa6e.net/senior-living-for-hams January, 2019.